ICELAND 103 



night it was a very fine physical effort and the 

 Faroese are in no danger of extinction. 



It is only at a dance of this description and 

 importance that the native gala costume is worn, 

 and many of the guests were to us gracefully 

 adorned. A mere man is not supposed to know 

 anything about such things, so for a description 

 I have fallen back on the words of a recent writer 

 on the Faroes, Mrs. L. von Thiele 



" The girls wear a full, dark-stuff skirt, reaching 

 to the ankles, a black velvet bodice, laced across 

 the front over a white chemisette, turned in at the 

 neck, with short, plain sleeves coming half-way 

 between the shoulder and elbow, a little silk Paisley 

 shawl over the shoulders, and a gaily-striped apron. 

 The hair is drawn plainly off the face, braided into 

 several plaits, and turned up under a little black 

 silk or velvet Dutch cap, tied under the chin. The 

 men wear fine black-cloth knee-breeches, fastened 

 with gold buttons, a cut-away coat, and knitted 

 stockings, with low shoes, the whole having a 

 curious resemblance to an English gentleman's 

 Court costume. By their side they carry a very 

 ornate whaling-knife, more for ornament than use, 

 for the ones actually used in whale hunts are larger 

 and stronger." 



In two days more we were back again in dear old 

 Scotland after a most delightful trip. 



